Be the change you wish to see

This thought has been running in my head since morning and I had to try and put it into words. And when I did sit down to do so, my son asked me to look at the mouse-pad. It was very same thought!

When we encounter something that affects us, roils us up, saddens us, how do we act? After all the inner dialogue and perhaps discussion with peers on how wrong the event was, what do we do?

Some don't get affected. What happens in their surroundings does not matter much to them. I believe its called apathy. I am no one to judge anyone for being apathetic and my write up is not about it either.

There are some who just LOVE to crib. They can complain about anything and can blame the entire system for the state of affairs. Those are the very people who won't lift a finger to change anything for the better. Its easy to just complain and do nothing more. I know it is, because I did that till very recently.

And suddenly I understood one day, that its not enough to just complain. I need to do something about whatever it is that I don't like. It need not be a huge community altering change that I had to effect. Every small bit in whatever capacity I can, will help.

And with that, I had this second epiphany. I stopped complaining. Not because all problems vanished, but something inside me shifted.

Maybe that's why you will hardly see that the actual drivers of change hardly complain. They quietly do their work knowing fully well that things take time to ripen and mature. They are prepared to encounter and face challenges in the way and still continue their good work. They do not get bogged down or derailed by even the most vitriolic opposition. And by sheer will and good work, they inspire others to do the right thing.

Now I think I finally grasp these words 'Be the change you want to see in the world' by Gandhiji.

The Heart's Invisible Furies by John Boyne

The Heart's Invisible Furies by John Boyne

My rating: 5 of 5 stars


Where do I start. Right at the beginning? The beginning is also at the end. How beautifully life comes a full circle.
I was drawn to Catherine who had to pay the price for being reckless in the rush of youth. I felt searing pain as Cyril grew up painfully shy and largely ignored.

But what hit me the most was the fear of being alone all life, never knowing love and companionship.

They say, the more things change, the more they remain the same. The casual bigotry by people who are not even aware of what they are doing, always being seen as aliens, always being in the defense of one's 'condition' was so hard to read, I had to take breaks, absorb and continue.

Not for a moment is the book depressive, the wry humour and narrative more than makes up for the heavy subject. I loved the way the whole story was narrated from every seventh year events.

A must-read book from my side.



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